Violet My hand shakes as I put a portion of my hair in a braid and pull it halfway back into the locks trailing down my shoulders. Half-up/half-down is one of my favorite ways to style my hair. Brent hated when I would play with my hairstyle like this – anything that was playful, fun, or age appropriate, he would sneer his nose up at. He preferred for me to wear it pulled back in a bun style that was so severe, it made me look like I was in my forties. Given the way I never smiled, never met anyone's gaze – I probably did look like I was in my forties. Some miser who hated her life, and for a while I did. But I've come to realize over the past few weeks that's so not me. Not many people know I'm actually twenty-nine. Much too young to feel this damn old. Isn't that a song or something?